Uncovering the Consequences of Overconsumption: An Exploration of the Story of Stuff

Vincent BIRET: Starting the book I thought it'd only cover environnemental aspects and I was happily surprised to see that it also covers social, economic and political issues as well. It'd benefit a refresh though as a lot of websites or applications the book points to are offline now.

Canada on Jul 05, 2020

Jim in NC: Did you ever wonder what happens to all that trash set out on your street on garbage day? Where does it go? While living in New York City, Annie Leonard wondered about that question and ended up studying Stuff for 20 years before writing this book. Other questions addressed include: "What is the real cost of Extraction (of raw materials), Production, Distribution, and Disposal of all that Stuff?" In the course of addressing such questions as these, Leonard invites us to consider the impact of toxic chemicals and ingredients of Stuff, and how those toxics affect the miners/extractors of raw materials, production workers, purchasers of the Stuff, AND how they affect the people who live in areas where the Stuff with its toxins (if any) are dumped.
An overarching issue is our carbon footprint (individual, corporate, etc.) and Global Warming. Whether you believe global warming is a hoax or a real crisis, "The Story of Stuff" has something to say to you. If you believe your responsibility in the matter of global warming is only to recycle or reuse Stuff, this book has something to say to you. Leonard encourages recycling, among other things, as one action individuals can take. But...

United States on Jan 08, 2015

Dr. Nigel D. Miles: This lady has an encyclopedic knowledge of this the most fundamental issue of our time. Stuff...and our addiction to the like, sadly!

Annie has provided all of us with an introduction and personal account of what the facts are and how we can learn to live a great life but knowing that whatever level of economic training you have you cannot escape the "One Earth" Principle....There are not just enough of the Stuff available, no matter how clever we are with primary resource use to enable everyone to have the lifestyle of those human members in the G20 nations and others associated with them European EA members included.

The crunch is now upon us. All our news reports are related to the manner by which we acquire, "Stuff". Everything we value materially relates solely to "Stuff".

I would dutifully demand in a constructive manner that Annie be put forward to head....the United Nations, The World Bank, The IMF, and GATT; and first Global Presidium Advocate for planet Earth.

If you don't believe me read this book, take a deep breath when finishing reading it and ACT!

Dr. Nigel Miles,
Contributory provider of the SEEBif Initiative,

c/o...

United Kingdom on Jun 09, 2014

Nigel Braggins: In the fantasy world of "The Matrix" energy from human beings is drained from their bodies to power the ruling machines. People are brainwashed to believe they have their own self-determined lifestyle - whilst in reality their "lives" are a fiction and they exist only in a bath of weird gloop. "The Story of Stuff" will make you wonder if you should sit up and wipe the gloop from your eyes!

It may be fantastical to suggest that the "machine" is running things and we are the machine's energy supply, but in reality nobody doubts that without us the capitalist "machine" would grind to a halt. We DO power the machine. We make the machine work and with the money the machine pays us we buy the stuff the machine tells us we need. "Hang on" you say "I'm the consumer, not the consumed. I decide what I buy. I need all that stuff". Yeah right - all of it? Keep taking the pills (do you prefer the red pill or the blue pill?).

Read this book and you'll see what I mean. Apologies to those who haven't seen the film. "The Matrix" analogy is my own (humorous) take on the book - its not what Anne Leonard says. What she says is based on years of research into the materials economy,...

United Kingdom on Jun 14, 2013

C Crawford: It is very informative and brings to light many aspects of consumerism that constantly go unnoticed or are never considered. It has made me change my attitudes concerning the things I buy and dispose of. I have been aware for a long time about the environmental issues it discusses, but there are a lot of ethical issues involved along the entire production, manufacturing and distribution processes, which I hadn't previously considered. It missed five stars because I felt a little lost when considering the actions I could take to fight the problems it highlights as it seems that near enough every choice has some sort of negative consequence. Despite this, I think it should be a compulsory read for everyone across the globe. With this subject, ignorance should not be an excuse and this book will make you reconsider things which we have been taught to take for granted. For instance, the true ethical and environmental cost of upgrading your phone simply because you're old contract has run out even though the one you are replacing still works perfectly fine. Also the hidden costs to a cheap cotton t-shirt and the embodied energy it possesses.

United Kingdom on Mar 12, 2013

eck4355: Annie Leonard's "The Story Of Stuff" is an entertaining, informative and thought-provoking book. It makes you realise how much crap we have that we don't need and how much the crap we do have is harming our communities, health and the environment. Thought a cotton T-shirt was the healthy, eco-friendly option... think again. Even as I write I am being poisoned by toxins such as Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers used to prevent my laptop from spontaneously combusting (Pages 76,92). It shows how much our lives have changed in the past century with all these new compounds like PVC and polyester and how much damage these changes have done, are doing and will do with continued use. It's difficult to avoid this you might say but Annie Leonard offers tips on how to make your stuff, your home and your community safer for you and yours.

United Kingdom on May 04, 2012

Kat J: A very polarizing book because it criticizes the very foundation of our American economy and way of life. It is like having your parents tell you that you were really adopted and your real father was a serial killer - you have to start all over with your asumptions about who you are, how you want to live and wonder if you have a future or if you are doomed by your past. Unfortunately most people would rather put their head in the sand than know that their way of life might come to an end, and that the way they are living now is depriving others of a decent life. The book is both thought provoking and guilt producing (for those who tend to those feelings.) Although most people say they don't trust the government, really they want to believe that the government is looking out for their best interests, health and well being. They hope to achieve the "American Dream" of owning an enormous house, having a huge wardrobe and owning a fleet of cars and being the envy of all they know because of it. Everyday they are bombarded with advertisements that tell them that they will be happier if they just buy more stuff. This book takes all the fun out of that- which is a good reason to hate it...

United States on Feb 04, 2011

C. Lerza: Annie Leonard's book tells us so much about our world and about, as it says on the cover, the environmental and social impacts of "our obsession with stuff." But it also tells us about who we are and what we think is important. Not preachy or judgmental, Annie creates a new way to think about the choices we make in our own lives and how they connect to everyone and everything. It's really a book about community and how to create one, and how to make choices --both personal and political --that can lead to a healthier, safer and more sustainable world for all of us. Loved the mix of personal stories and analysis and the detailed footnotes and citations. You can read the whole book, or just dip into individual chapters. It's well written and tells a great story. A great read that will make you see the world differently -- and open up many opportunities to make change. My only criticism is that the pages are very dense --would have loved more graphics and white space -- and I don't like the feel of the paper (100% post consumer recycled of course) but I know the author wanted to walk her talk by insisting on the highest possible green standards for publishing. This book picks up...

United States on Mar 11, 2010